Turning a personal tragedy into a hit record is tricky, and not just for all the normal reasons that it's difficult to make a song into a hit. Artists who write a great personal song may be hesitant to record it for months or years. Taste of Country writer Billy Dukes considers three powerful songs and three artists who dealt with the personal tragedies that inspired them in very different ways.

Cole Swindell set out to make a well-rounded album that tells his story, and he succeeded. The 12 tracks on ‘Cole Swindell’ tread along familiar country themes, but don’t run ruts into any one in particular. It’s surprisingly easy to find yourself halfway through the album a second time without noticing.

Valentine's Day gifts don't need to cost a fortune, but many men end up spending a month's car payment or more anyway. Cole Swindell once tried to woo a girl with a high-priced gift. The problem was, he didn't have a girl in mind. And he had been drinking ...

It looks like it's going to be Cole Swindell's year. The singer-songwriter just announced the release date for his self-titled debut album, and it will hit the shelves in the new year, making his first dose of 2014 a pretty great one.

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